The Observatory

The main goal of this Observatory is to study and evaluate herb-drug interactions that occur in Portugal, and if required to extend its action to other countries. Besides promoting the knowledge in this scientific area, the Observatory intends to contribute to a rational evaluation on herb-drug interactions, as fundamental instrument of research and scientific dissemination.

The OIPM intends to study and disclose the most frequent and worrying interactions that occur in Portugal, to prevent its occurrence, and to create a national and international strategy to assess the risk of such interactions. The key is to educate and inform the population in a way to make them understand how to avoid these risks, achieving health benefits and the reduction of inherent expenses in eventual accidents.

Over the last decade, several incidents have been reported in scientific journals, demonstrating interactions between allopathic medicines, available in the Therapeutic Index and extracts of medicinal plants. This information should help gathering sufficient data in order to sustain clinical evidence that could be used to prevent further accidents, which would reduce the costs in healthcare systems, but essentially help preserving the patient’s health.

Genetic factors, age, general health condition, renal and hepatic functions, consumption of alcohol, smoking, diet, as well as environmental factors have an important influence upon the susceptibility for drugs interactions. However, the knowledge about the mechanisms involved in absorption, bioavailability, metabolism and excretion is well known nowadays allowing us to assess the risk.

It’s important to mention that most of the available drugs in the therapeutic spectrum had origin in medicinal plants and it was their toxicity that revealed the potential bioactivity which is nowadays used in Therapy and as a result of which the side effects might increase when taken concurrently.

Recently the number of clinical trials, that test the hypotheses of interaction, in a way to understand a possible mechanism and scientific evidence, is increasing. This is fundamental to strengthening clinical evidence necessary to consolidate the knowledge in this area.

• Development of research projects in the area;
• Disclosure of well-supported interactions (clinically and scientifically) and alert to other possible interactions, theoretically relevant;
• Raise citizens awareness of this issue in order to avoid already proved risk situations, as well as to inform and advise about potential interactions;
• Create a national and international strategy of risk assessment in this context.